Competing against other sellers

[handmade-rosaries]

How does one seller compete with another who ships low-cost items for 46 cents -- less than the cost of a stamp?

[slippinjimmy]

You offer "free shipping" (shipping included).

[chrysylys]

Sell something else.

[professor-t]

You're probably competing with Chinese seller who get subsidies from both eBay and their government.

[ripcityresell]

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wrote:

How does one seller compete with another who ships low-cost items for 46 cents -- less than the cost of a stamp?

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Depends on what the items are. If the competitor is selling from China, then I don't even bother considering them a competitor. I don't come here to 'compete'. I come here to sell and quite often it's easy to sell something at a higher price if you just take good pictures, describe it well, have seller friendly terms and fast shipping. Believe me, I'd pay a few bucks more for something that will get here in a couple of days, as opposed to over a month.

[ozarkjoe]

You can't compete except for shipping speed and quality.  The rosaries I buy are usually over $20 with metal or wood components, not the low end plastic ones.  The first lesson I learned here was that if 30 people were selling the same hardcover novel for $2 then I had to give up on that book and find higher value items.

[*eponymous*]

When buyers search for "rosary", it seems that they are normally looking for a a 5-decade Dominican rosary or perhaps a one-decade hand rosary with 10 beads for reciting the hail mary, one bead for recitation of the our father, and a glory be.  They're probably not looking for a chaplet. 

Do people really just buy a rosary from someone they have no connection with, no connection to the church or to an institution, to an Order of the faithful, that has been blessed, or that ties a memory to a religious place or experience?

[hawgryders]

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wrote:

How does one seller compete with another who ships low-cost items for 46 cents -- less than the cost of a stamp?

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It's called a Loss-Leader --- use a cheap low cost item to get a buyer on your mailing list --- lose a few cents to gain a new customer ...

[7606dennis]

If you sell a low cost item that is not profitable for you to sell and ship, it might be time to re-evaluate your business plan.  If you find that you cannot compete with others selling similar products, you may have to look for something else to sell.

[turquoisetulips]

 Believe me, I'd pay a few bucks more for something that will get here in a couple of days, as opposed to over a month. secondchancemedia - unquote ---- -----------------------------------------

A month to about 6 weeks is typical for deliveries from   China  except for the next two weeks  that is . It's the Chinese new year festival every Feb.  and just about the entire country shuts down including most of their postal sevices . A U.S  buyer could probably walk to China and pick up their orders faster  than waiting  on them to ship it .  Tulips 

[best_vintage_photos]

"A U.S  buyer could probably walk to China and pick up their orders faster  than waiting  on them to ship it .  Tulips "

This is true, especially for the orders that were paid for but never shipped at all.

[fashunu4eeuh]

For the most part, my items are OOAK or scarce collectibles so I am not up against aggressive competition. But I have a philosophy of selling-- if i can't compete on price, then i compensate by having the best customer service with more buyer-centric terms than the other guy. Free shipping, one day handling time, and liberal return policy help get me a more favored position in Search, following eBay's "best practices" recommendations. I'm selective on what i list so i can keep my sell-thru rate high. That also is said to improve placement. This way i wouldn't be buried under mounds of other sellers' listings. They can't buy it if they can't find it.

[fuzzface50]

You beat them with better service and quality over their cheap knockoffs.  but yes, it is better to avoid selling the exact identical thing as them. 

[duggmills]

You probably aren't going to be able to compete in market with over 31,000 other listing under rosary. 

Far too many people buy on price only without considerations of quality or individuality.

I looked at one listing for a rosary selling for a penny with free shipping.  I see your problem.   Far too many people buy on price only without considerations of quality or individuality. Do fifty dollar rosaries pray better than fifty cent rosaries?

You could reduce your manufacturing costs by buying a bunch of very cheap rosaries and "tune them up" for resale.

Are you able to advertise your products in local Catholic churches and schools? And in local or national church publications? Or participate  in local craft fairs?